Iran says positive atmosphere helps atomic dispute

TEHRAN, June 18 (Reuters) Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki today said a ''positive atmosphere'' had been created that could open the way to reaching agreement over Iran's nuclear programme through talks with world powers.

But he did not say when Iran would respond to a package presented to Tehran by six world powers aimed at ending an atomic standoff with the West.

''The positive atmosphere that has been created ... could create the best opportunity to pave the way to reaching an understanding,'' Mottaki said in comments about the atomic dispute, broadcast on state television.

He said such an understanding could be reached by talks between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- the United States, China, Russia, Britain and France -- plus Germany.

''About the package, the assessment has started with precision and seriousness. By God's will, by the end of the assessment, we will first inform our European counterparts and then the public,'' he said without giving a timeframe.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Friday welcomed the package but also said Iran would not be concerned by possible sanctions if it rejected the June 6 offer.

The package offers incentives for Iran to halt uranium enrichment, a process the West believes Tehran has started to produce nuclear weapons. Iran says its goals are purely civilian and has previously said it would not stop enrichment.

REUTERS KD RN1447